richardson



N M 11. 4 0 0 F!) RICHARDSON- Sheets Sheetl I Bat for Rackets, LawnTennis, 8L0. No. 240,183. I Patsy/ted April 12, E883.

WITNESSES 7 INVENTOH (No Model.) 4 Shee t s-Sheet 2. r H. RICHARDSON.Bat for Rackets, Lawn. Tennis, 8L0.

No. 240,183. PatentedApril 12,1'ssa.

FIG 5.

FIG 5 Fl F1055 +70 5.

-- mvnvrofl WITNESSES (No Model.) a 4 Sheets-611M133,

. ERIUEARDSON.

Bat for Racket, LawnTennis, 8L0. No. 240,183 Patented April 12,1881.

FIG 5 A (No Model.)

H. RICHARDSON. Bafi-for Rackets, Lawn Tennis, 8w.

No. 240,183. Patented=Aprfjilj2518:81.:

H02 2" F167. a f &g 2a 5 w/ TNESSESV v I Y INVENTIOB fix ' UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

BAT FOR RACKETS,

LAWN-TENNIS, 86C.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,183, dated April12, 1881. Application filed July 22, 1880. (No model.) Patented inEngland November 26, 1879.

v To all whom it may concern 'Be it known that 1, HENRY RICHARDSON, ofthe city of Liverpool, in the county of Lan caster, in that part of theUnited Kingdom of invention, reference being had to the sheets ofdrawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figures 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are general plans of difierent forms of my invention.The

other figures of the drawings are details of the several forms oftheinvention, to be here 'inafter again referred to and fully explained.

The essential features of my invention are that ofmechanicallytightening or straining the stringing of bats when suchshall have become loose by change of temperature, or damp, or throughusage, and constructing the frames of bats of steel or other suitablemetal formed in a U or other suitable'section.

Either of the following methods will accomplish the object of myinvention.

Figuresl, 2, 3,151 1 2 2 2 2 ,2 3 3, 3 3, 3 are illustrative of myinvention as coming under method A. According to this method I use aseries of rollers, A, and starting or tightening pegs B. These rollers Aare let into the frame O, and also into the upper portion of the handleof, the tennis-bat, either by dividing the frame'G by means of asaw-cut, or by forming the frame 0 of two vertical parallel pieces inmanner-such as shown at Figs. 2 and 3 The frame-O is made of anysuitable wood, or of ebonite, or of steel,

'or other suitable metal. The rollers A are -the stringing E.

provided with stops orlocking-screws a, and a provision, b,forinsertingthe key for winding, asillustrated in detail at Figs. 1 1,1.

The stringing of the bat, which may be formed of catgut, or ordinarystring, or other suitable known material, and which is hereinafterdesignated as the stringing, and indicated by the letter E, commencesfrom a'tig-htening-peg, B, and is laced from roller to roller Ahorizontally, and from roller to roller A vertically,in lengths. Theendsof the stringingE terminate at tightening-pegs, such as shown atFig. l,provided with a stop-screw, such as a, and a provision, such asb, to receivethe key 1) for tightening the stringing E by winding thesame on the tightening-peg winding the ends of the stringing E upon thepegs B any desired tension can be put upon The strii'iging E is, byprefe nce, done in portions, as shown at Fig. 1, each portion commencingand terminating upon a tightening-peg B.

The drawing shown at Fig.1 illustrates a bat with rollers A arrangedtoproducea ninesixteenths of an inch mesh of the stringing E, as likewisethe drawing Fig. 2. The drawing at Fig. 3 illustrates a bat with rollersA arranged to give a five-sixteenths of an inch mesh. 1n the bat shownat Fig. 2, the stringing E is brought to a point, as at F, to effect thesimultaneous tightening by means of the'screw-bolt G and nut H, whichwork in the recess K in the handle J of the bat, as shown at Fig. 2".The end of thehandle J is provided with a screwed metal cap, J, so thatthe player can tighten up the stringing E. when required, by screwingdown the nut H bya suitable key, Fig. 2.

A modification of this simultaneous tightening is shown at Fig. 2 Theends of the stringing E are attached to the head of the screw-bolt G,which works inthe recess G, and which is actuated by the milled nut H,as illustrated. A further modification of the simultaneous tightening isshown at Fig. 3, in which, by

B, the stop -screw to, being removed before tightening and replacedafter tightening. By

winding the ends of the stringing E round the '7 bolt G, which passesthrough the handle J and through the hole G, and which is provided witha stop-screw, a, and a provision, b, to receive the key forwinding upthe stringing, as shown in detail, Figs. 3 3 and 3. In. string- IOO ingup the bats it is sometimes necessary to have a double roller. This iseffected as shown at A, Fig. 2 or 3 The handle J (shown at Fig. 2) maybe used with any of the bats.

Fig. 4. is illustrative of my invention as coming under the method B.According to this method I use a series of small screw-eyebolts,A,positioned round the frameG and projecting through it on the innerside not less than onequarter inch and countersunk on the outerside, andprovided with an iudia-rubber washer or metal spring, f, a metal washer,e, and a nut, d. For details see Figs. i and 4.". The stringing E is, bypreference, cut in lengths corresponding with the widths and lengthsrequired to string the bat. Each length is fastened by its ends to therespective eycbolts A, and may be fastened thus either at one end orboth ends-that is, one end may be fastened to the frame of the bat andthe other end to an eyebolt, as shown at A, or both ends may be fastenedto eyebolls, as shown atA. The fastening maybe accomplished either byknotting, twisting, or, in the case of catgut, by swelling out the endsof the gut. By screwing down'the nuts d by means of a suitable key, suchas shown at Fig.4, ora pair of pliers, the screwbolts A can be drawnwithin the frame C and tension thus put upon the stringing E, as will beunderstood. If desired, the stringing may be laced eontinously throughthe eyebolts A instead of being cut into lengths, as before mentioned.

Fig. 5 is illustrative of my invention as coming under the method G.According to this method I use an interior frame,band,or hoop, L, ofcane, wood, metal, or other suitable material, bored with holescorresponding with the required stringing E of the bat. The frame L maybe of one or more pieces, and is attached to the main frame U by asuitable number of screws or bolts and nuts, N, by the indrawing ofwhich the two frames 0 and L are brought together, and the stringing Ethereby tightened. The frame 0 is grooved at G, as shown at Fig. 5",which is a section of the frame 0, and as shown by the dotted lines 0,Fig. 5, to receive the frame L when the stringing is tightened up.

Fig. 5is a side view, Fig. 5 is a frontview, and Fig. 5" a section, of amethod of tightening the stringing E by means of levers and screw-boltsM. The stringing E is passed over the ends of the levers M, asillustrated, the frame 0 being grooved at the outside, at O", to receivethe levers M. The stringing E is tightened by screwing down the bolts 0,and thereby bringing the levers M up, as will be understood. Theselatter methods, Figs. 4, 5, 5, show my invention as it may be applied tobats strung with knots, or stringing such as is known as the Gibraterstringing.

My invention further consists in substituting steel or other suitablemetal for wood in the manufacture of frames of tennis or like bats.- Onemethod is illustrated at Fig. 6.

This consists in forming the frame G of steel. of U or other section.(See Fig. 6 The stringing E is passed through holes in the frame of thebat, and also through the gusset piece, which fits between the ends ofthe metal fame, and which is secured in position by screws, as shown; orthe bat may be strung as per method A, B, or 0, before described, or asshown at Fig. 5; or the bat may be strung, as shown at Fig. 6-, round aninner band, 0 formed ofwood,cane,cork,gutta-perch, leather, or othersuitable material.

If desired, the tightening of the stringing E may be elfected byproviding screw-bolts with nuts or sockets, as i or i, Fig. 6, by theaction of which the frame 0 is drawn out or expanded, and the stringingE thereby tightened.

In Fig. 6 R is a filling of paper, cork, or other suitable material,which is covered by the covering-band S.

Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 6".

In Fig. 7 the bat is shown with a metal frame, 0, composed of twovertical parallel metal bands, O U embracing a band or hoop of wood,cane, cork,or other suitable material, 0 (See Figs. 7" 7%) The bands Care held and supported by the stays 0 which also serve to securethe bandC in position. The stringing E is passed through the band C and alsothrough the handle, as shown in the drawings, and is covered over with aband of india-rubher, cloth, leather, gutta-percha, or other suitablematerial, which band 1 also employ in connection with the wooden orebonite frame bats. This make of bats suits the tightening methods A, B,and G. I attach the handle to the metal frame by the method illustratedat Fig. 6nau1ely, by splitting the handle J and bending the split endsout, so as to form a gas set-the inside of the ends being of section: tosuit the metal frame, which fits in between the ends. The gusset orlower portion of the metaL frame is titted in before stringing with agusset-piece, h, as before mentioned, and the handle and frame aresecured and held together bolts and nuts, as shown at Fig. 6.

1n the arrangement shown at Fig. 7'tbe ends. 9 of the handle J andgusset-piece h pass upbetween the vertical parallel metal handed), andare secured thereto by the screws K. The gusset-piece k may be as shownin full lines, or asv shown in dotted lines.

Having now fully described and ascertained the nature, object, andpurposes of this my invention, and shown how the same may be car" riedout into practical effect, I claim-- 1. Oonstructingbats forrackets,lawn-tennis, badminton, and like games so that the stringing of suchbats can be tightened, adjusted, and strained to any desired tension,when they have become slack, by means of rollers, screws, levers, orlike mechanism, such as herein described and illustrated.

2. The method of tightening the stringing of the bat, consisting of aseries of rollers and tight- 24o,1ss- 1 3 p K ening-pegs set in theframe of the head and operated by means of a key, substantially as shownand described.

3. The method of tightening the whole string-V 5 ing of the head fromone point and at one operation, consisting of a rod or shaft set in thehandle or frame of the bat and fitted with a nut or wrench, andconnected to the system of adjustable levers, as shown atFigs. 5 5, and5, operating substantially in the manner and c 5 for the purposes setforth.

5. A compound bat-frame composed of metal or metal and wood, or itsdescribed equivalent, joined together, substantially as shown anddescribed.

6. The handle J of the bat, made detachable, and clamped between themetal pieces (J C of the bat-frame,-and secured by bolts or screws K,substantially as described.

In witness whereof I, the said HENRY RICH- ARDSON, have hereunto set myhand this 26th 25 'day of May, 1880.

HENRY RICHARDSON. .[L. 8.]

Witnesses:

FREDERICK J OHN GHEESBROUGH, J OHN HAMILTON REDMOND, Both of 15 WaterStreet, Liverpool, England.

